Staff Writer
Efforts to assist those needing help in paying higher than normal home heating costs are continuing this week with both local and federal officials seeking funding through various avenues. At the grassroots level, the “pickle jar campaign,” organized by the Rev. Max Soucia is picking up speed. Between two venues for collection, at the Airport Café in Presque Isle and the Farmers’ Bakery in Caribou, a total of $364 has been collected, Soucia said Tuesday.
Some donors have come in specifically to donate to the fund, including one woman who put $100 in the collection jar at the café, Soucia said.
That money has been turned over to the Helping Neighbors program in Presque Isle for use in assisting needy families, Soucia said.
The Caribou minister, who also manages the Airport Café, is asking other businesses to become involved by placing collection jars at their establishments.
‘It’s be great to have other businesses get involved,” Soucia said.
At the higher end of government, several U. S. senators, including Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins have written this week to the Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, Jim Nussle, asking that more money be put into LIHEAP, the low-income heating assistance program.
“With thousands of Mainers struggling to provide basic heating for their families, we just work together to ensure that indispensable assistance is provided as we head into the heart of winter,” Snowe said. “I remain committed to providing additional resources for the Maine LIHEAP program and I am working with my colleagues, the administration, and congressional leadership to ensure its inclusion in any final federal budget.”
“So many families in my home state of Maine are already struggling to heat their homes, and the official start of winter is still weeks away,” said Collins. “It is estimated that heating oil costs will rise by an onerous $495 per household this winter. We must work together to help low-income families and the elderly meet their energy needs and ensure that they stay safe and warm this winter.”
Meanwhile, the director of energy and housing services at the Aroostook County Action Program, James Baillargeon said that there’s $20 million in federal assistance funds left over from last year. A $1 million of that amount could be destined for Maine. However, the ACAP official said that it wouldn’t help very much.
Baillargeon said that the agency is continuing to process applications. Over 5,158 applications have been taken in Aroostook County and are in various stages of being processed.
Currently, nearly $2.2 million in benefits have been issued to approximately 3,804 households since October 2007, Baillargeon said. ACAP expects to process applications for approximately 6,400 households this heating season and will continue to schedule application intake appointments through April 30, 2008.
“LIHEAP provides financial help to eligible low-income households to offset the high costs of home heating,” Baillargeon explained. “Eligible households are entitled to one LIHEAP benefit per heating season. LIHEAP is not an emergency program and is not intended to cover a household’s entire heating costs. The average benefit is approximately $585 and ranges from $85 to $875,” he said.
Clients may contact the ACAP Energy and Housing Services Office in Presque Isle at 1-800-585-3053 or 768-3053 for an appointment or for an ACAP worker to come a client’s home.
According to Baillargeon, all households must meet income and program guidelines to qualify for a LIHEAP benefit. Individuals who are homeowners, are renters who pay their heating costs directly or indirectly, live in subsidized housing and pay for heating costs directly, or live in a rooming or boarding situation may be eligible for a regular LIHEAP benefit.
